This comprehensive message
was conveyed in verbal revelation to the Holy Prophet of Islam over a period
of approximately twenty-two years (610-632), and every aspect of it was
illustrated by the Holy Prophet in his own life. He has been described
in the Holy Quran as an excellent exemplar (33:22). Also, he was commanded
to announce:

"If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will then love you
and forgive you your faults. Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful."
(3:32)

This necessitated that
his life should be lived in the light of day and that a full account of
it should become available. It was also necessary that his life should
be multi-faceted, in the sense that he should be called upon to fill a
diversity of roles, and that he should fill them to perfection. He was
born in Mecca in AD 570 and lived through the first third of the seventh
century. A full and detailed account of his life has come down to us and
is open to study and research by seekers after truth. All this could not
have been contrived by the Holy Prophet on his own. At every stage and
every step of his life, the hand of God was clearly visible as Protector,
Guide and Helper.

He was born an orphan,
his father having died a few months before his birth. His mother died when
he was about six years old, and his grandfather, who was his loving and
devoted guardian, died when he was eight years old. He then passed into
the care of his uncle, Abu Talib, brother of his father. Even at this early
stage the Divine design is retrospectively perceptible that God Himself
was his true Guardian. This is confirmed beyond question or cavil by the
fact that though his childhood, boyhood and youth had been spent in the
corrupt and debased society of Mecca, he arrived at his full maturity without
the least suspicion of the slightest stain on his character. In later years,
he was wont to say that before he received the Divine Call, he had little
understanding of moral and spiritual values, yet Divine wisdom fully safeguarded
him against every kind of lapse. He never paid homage to an idol, never
ate of anything presented as offering to an idol, never touched liquor,
nor gambled, nor took part in any of the frivolous activities of his fellow
youths.

At one period of his
youth, Muhammad was employed, like other young men of his age, in tending
the sheep and goats of Mecca upon the neighboring hills and valleys. On
one occasion, when he was engaged in his duty in company with a lad of
Quraish, he asked him to look after his flock also, so that he could go
into Mecca and divert himself there as other youths were wont to divert
themselves at night. But no sooner had he reached the precincts of the
city than a marriage feast engaged his attention, and he soon fell asleep.
On another similar occasion, he again fell asleep on his way to the city
till morning. Thus he escaped temptation and no more sought after such
diversions.

All the authorities
agree in ascribing to the youth of Muhammad a modesty of deportment and
purity of manners rare among the people of Mecca. It was quite in keeping
with his character that he should have shrunk from the coarse and licentious
practices of his youthful compatriots. Endowed with a refined mind and
delicate taste, reserved and meditative, he lived much within himself,
and the ponderings of his heart supplied occupation for leisure hours spent
by others of a lower stamp in rude sports and profligacy. The fair character
and honorable bearing of the unobtrusive youth won the approbation of his
fellow citizens; and by common consent, he received the title Al Ameen,
meaning The Faithful. After the Divine Call came to him, and his message
was treated with ridicule and suspicion, he was urged by God to challenge
his opponents in the words: "I have spent a whole lifetime among
you before this; will you not then understand?" (10:17). Not even
his bitterest enemy could point to a single incident in his previous life
to which exception could have been taken.

When he arrived at the
age of maturity, his uncle recommended him to Khadija, a wealthy, highly
respected widow among Quraish, who, like most of her contemporaries, had
a substantial interest in the trade caravans that travelled from Mecca
to Yemen in the south, and to Syria in the north, so that she might employ
him as her agent in a caravan that was about to set out for Syria. She
readily agreed, and Muhammad acquitted himself so well in the discharge
of his duties that she was deeply impressed by his honesty, integrity,
business acumen and his pleasing and attractive personality.

She had been twice married
and had children from both marriages. Though approaching her fortieth
year, she had, after the death of her second husband, received a number
of proposals of marriage, which she had turned down. Now she made up her
mind to sound Muhammad, whether he would be willing to consider a proposal
of marriage. She sent one of her maids to him on this errand. Muhammad
was surprised and took counsel with his uncle, who expressed himself favorable
and the match was arranged. Muhammad was twenty-five years of age and thus
fifteen years Khadija's junior.

The marriage, despite
the disparity in age and affluence, proved a very happy one. Khadija bore
Muhammad several children; of these, the sons died in infancy, but the
daughters grew to womanhood and in due course married. The descendents
of only one daughter, Fatima, who was married to the Prophet's cousin,
Ali, son of his uncle, Abu Talib, have survived. All those who today claim
direct descent from the Holy Prophet are descended through Fatima and her
two sons, Hasan and Husain.

Muhammad was a loving
and affectionate husband, showing tender regard and consideration for Khadija.
When at home, he occupied himself in helping with the household tasks and
taking care of his wife and children. He persuaded Khadija to give away
the greater part of her wealth in charity to help the poor and the needy.
It speaks highly of her character that she voluntarily agreed to a life
of simplicity and benevolence in the company of her husband. She was so
devoted to him and had come to admire him so deeply that when, fifteen
years after their marriage, he received the Divine Call, she responded
to it immediately, and was a constant source of comfort and support to
him throughout the remaining ten years of their life together.

As time passed, Muhammad
spent more and more time in contemplation and meditation. He possessed
a sensitive mind and a grave and serene disposition. He felt keenly the
distress of every fellow being, and reacted very sharply to it, affording
such relief and assistance as were within his power. On one occasion, he
observed an old slave laboring hard to fulfil his task of drawing water
in a heavy bucket for tending his master's garden. Muhammad went to his
assitance and drew up a quantity of water, which gave relief to the old
man for a short while, so that he could rest and husband his failing strength.
Muhammad spoke cheering and comforting words to him, and on parting from
him, said kindly: "Whenever you feel you are in need of help, you
may call on Muhammad." Many such incidents are on record.

What affected his mind
most deeply and painfully, however, was the moral and spiritual decline
into which his people had fallen, and from which he could see no way of
rescuing them, save through Divine guidance and help. For the purpose of
communing with himself and imploring the light and guidance of the Supreme
Being concerning the problems that troubled his mind and soul, he formed
the habit of retiring, for several days at a time, to one of the hills
a few miles out of Mecca. There he occupied himself in prayer and contemplation.
Taking with him a modest supply of dates and water, he would spend his
days and nights in selfexamination, in reflecting on the problems that
troubled him, and in prayer and supplication to God. There is no record
of the struggle that went on in his soul during this period of retreat.
In the nature of things, it is not granted to any of us to probe into the
depths of another's soul, to appriase accurately and completely its travail
and its ecstasies. This is a holy secret between each individual and his
Maker.

Those years were, however,
years of preparation, when Muhammad's soul was being deepened and proved
and made ready for the heavy responsibility that the Divine will had decreed
should be placed on him.

Concerning Moses, it
is said in the Quran:

"I wrapped thee with love from Me, and this I did that thou
mightst be reared before My eye... We proved thee in various ways... then
thou camest up to the standard, 0 Moses, and I chose Thee for Myself."
(20:40-42)

As with Moses, so with
Muhammad. He is reminded of this in the Quran:

"Did He not find thee an orphan and take thee under His protection?
Did He not find thee perplexed in search of Him and guide thee unto Himself?
Did He not find thee in want and provide thee with abundance?"
(93:7-9)

Muhammad was forty years
old when the Divine Call came to him in his retreat in Hira, to which he
was in the habit of repairing for prayer and contemplation. He beheld a
gracious Presence, who asked him to recite. Muhammad answered that he knew
not how to recite. The. Presence insisted:

"Recite in the name of thy Lord Who created; created man from
a clot of blood. Recite! Thy Lord is the Most Beneficent, Who taught man
by the pen, taught him what he knew not. " (96:2-6)

Muhammad repeated the
words as commanded. The Presence then vanished. Overpowered by the experience,
Muhammad immediately made his way home, all atremble. He told Khadija what
had happened, and expressed fearful apprehension whether a frail human
being like himself would prove equal to the heavy responsibility that the
incident portended God was about to lay upon him.

'Surely, God will not
suffer thee to fail,' was Khadija's comforting response. 'Thou art kind
and considerate towards thy kin. Thou helpest the poor and forlorn and
bearest their burdens. Thou strivest to restore the high moral qualities
that thy people have lost. Thou honorest the guest and goest to the assistance
of those in distress.'

At Khadija's suggestion,
Muhammad accompanied her to her aged cousin, Waraqa, who was a Christian
hermit, and related the experience to him. Waraqa assured him, 'The Angel
that descended on Moses hath descended on thee. I wish I would be alive
to give thee my support when thy people turn thee out.' 'Will they turn
me out?' Muhammad exclaimed in surprise. 'Never has that come to any which
has come to thee,' Waraqa replied, 'but that his people have turned against
him.'

Possibly Waraq's reference
to Moses was prompted by the prophecy:

"I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like
unto thee, and I will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto
them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever
will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will
require it of him." (Deut. 18:18-19)

It is striking that
the very first revelation that came to the Prophet commanded him: "Recite
in the name of thy Lord. " Also, every chapter of the Quran opens
with: "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful"

For a while there was
no further experience of the same kind; but after an interval the Prophet
began to receive revelation at brief intervals. He has described the experience
vividly in these words: "Revelation comes to me in different ways.
Sometimes the words strike directly at my heart, like the ringing of a
bell, this is physically hard on me. Sometimes I hear the words as if spoken
from behind a veil. At other times I see a Presence that speaks the words
to me." This is confirmed by the Quran (42:52-52).

Four persons believed
in the Prophet from the very outset: his wife, Khadija; his young cousin,
Ali, son of his uncle, Abu Talib, a lad only eleven years of age; his freed
man, Zaid, and his closest friend, Abu Bakr. These four joined the Prophet
and undertook to help him spread the Divine Light. When this become known
to the Meccans, they laughed in derision. But they did not laugh long.
Verse by verse, the revelation proceeded, until some wondered, and one
by one began to be drawn to it. Soon mockery gave way to active concern.
The Meccans began to feel that the message Muhammad proclaimed, of the
Oneness of God, threatened their whole way of life and their very means
of subsistence. If the worship of idols was abandoned, they reasoned, Mecca
would cease to be a resort for pilgrims, and lose its position as a leading
town, and would see its main industry wither. Even the trade caravans might
be diverted from Mecca. It was, therefore, resolved to suppress this
threat to their established way of life and to their prosperity.

The new doctrine made
a strong appeal to the weak and the oppressed. The slaves, who suffered
extreme hardship and indignity, began to hope that the Prophet's message
might bring deliverance to them. Women, who were in some respects esteemed
lower than animals, began to look up, and felt that the time was nigh when
they might gain a position of dignity and honor beside their fathers, husbands,
and sons. Young men were inspired with visions of a noble and dignified
existence. The early converts came from the ranks of such as these.

As the little band grew
in number, the Meccans embarked upon a course of persecution which grew
more cruel and savage as time passed, but their efforts failed to arrest
the progress of the new doctrine of the Unity of God, the dignity and equality
of man, and the lofty and noble goal of human existence.

Opposition and Persecution Quraish, becoming
more and more apprehensive of the inroads being made by the new doctrine,
sent a delegation to Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, to whom they explained
that though his nephew's denunciation of idol worship was intolerable to
them, they had so far refrained from taking any extreme measure against
him out of respect for Abu Talib. Would he not persuade his nephew to give
up preaching the new doctrine, perhaps on pain of being disowned? They
made it plain that if Abu Talib did not adopt this course, they would be
compelled to disown him.

Abu Talib spoke to his
nephew, conveying to him what the delegation had said, but he replied firmly
that while he lamented his uncle's dilemma, he was under Divine orders
which he could not disobey. "Do not give up your people, uncle",
said Muhammad. "I do not ask you to stand by me. You may disown
me as they have suggested. As for me, the One and Only God is my Witness
when I say that if they were to place the sun on my right and the moon
on my left, I would not desist from preaching the truth that God commands.
I must go on doing so until the end."

Abu Talib plunged into
deep thought. He was not ready to declare his faith in the Prophet's message,
but he was very fond of him and must have felt a surge of pride at his
firm and noble resolve to carry out his mission as commanded by God. Finally,
he raised his head, and said: "Son of my brother, go thy way; do thy
duty as thou seest it; my people may disown me, but I shall stand by thee."

The tempo of persecution
continued to mount and the Prophet advised those of his followers who could
do so to leave Mecca and migrate across the Red Sea to Abyssinia, where
they would find conditions more bearable under the rule of the Christian
Emperor. A small band under the leadership of a cousin of the Prophet departed
for Abyssinia. A delegation of Quraish followed them, demanding of the
Emperor that the fugitives be delivered to them. The Emperor heard both
sides and rejected the demand of the Meccans.

About this time, the
persecuted and harassed Muslims of Mecca received some support and encouragement
from the adherence of Umar, and Hamza, uncle of the Prophet, to Islam.
But these conversions did not bring about any change in the attitude
of the Meccans. Umar was treated in the same manner as the rest of the
Muslims. Indeed, the persecution grew more bitter and intense.

Aiming to starve them
out, a complete boycott of the Muslims together with all members of the
Prophet's family was instituted. They were blockaded within a narrow defile
belonging to Abu Talib. All contact with them for any purpose whatever
was forbidden. This imposed great hardship, particularly on children
and old people. This terrible situation continued for nearly three years,
when some leading Meccans reacted against the savagery and inhumanity
of their fellow citizens, and let it be known that they would invite the
Prophet and his companions to come out of their place of confinement and
go about their business as before.

Thus was the blockade
lifted. But the privation and hardship endured during the blockade had
gravely affected the health of both Khadija and Abu Talib. Khadija died
within a few days, and Abu Talib's end came a month thereafter. The death
of his faithful and beloved wife left the Prophet bereft of his principal
source of earthly comfort and consolation, and the death of his uncle expos-
ed him to greater ill-treatment and persecution. In dozens of ways, his
opponents made it almost impossible for him to leave his house to carry
his message to any section of the people of Mecca or to those who might
be on a visit there.

In this situation, the
Prophet decided to carry his message to Taif, a town about sixty miles
south-east of Mecca, which was also a resort of pilgrimage and was more
pleasantly situated than Mecca itself. On his journey to Taif, he was accompanied
by Zaid, his freed man.

In Taif, the leading
townsmen received the Prophet and let him have his say freely, but paid
little heed to his message. After a while, they began to show signs of
apprehension lest his presence in Taif might embroil them with the Meccans,
with whom they had trade relations, and whose friendship they valued. So
they left him to be dealt with by street urchins and the riff-raff of the
town. The Prophet and his companion were finally turned out by mocking
and jeering crowds who pelted them with stones. Both were wounded and bleeding
as they left Taif behind them.

The Prophet was now
in a ver difficult situation. He had left Mecca and he had been rejected
by Taif. Under Meccan custom, he could not go back there unless his re-entry
was sponsored by some leading Meccan. There was nowhere else to go. He
prayed earnestly for light, guidance, and help, and then set out with Zaid
on the return journey to Mecca.

He stopped on the way
at Nakhla, and sent word to Mut'am bin Adi, a leading Meccan, asking whether
he would sponsor his reentry into Mecca. Mut'am agreed, and the Prophet
and Zaid thus returned to Mecca. But the situation in Mecca was as hostile
and difficult as it had been when he had left it. His prayers and the revelation
that came to him steadily, containing assurances of Divine help and final
triumph, were his only source of consolation and strength. The latest revelations
began to hint at the necessity for him to leave Mecca.

It was the town of his
birth, where he had spent the whole of his life, and married, where his
children had been born, and where the Divine call had come to him. Despite
the bitter and cruel persecution that he and his followers continued
to suffer, its people were dear to him and he knew that the parting, whenever
it came, would be hard for him to bear. But his life was completely dedicated
to his mission and he was ready to carry out in good spirit whatever might
be God's pleasure concerning him. The painful prospect of having to leave
Mecca was, however, softened by the Divine assurance that God would surely
bring him back to it (28:86).

Invitation from Medina
In the eyes of
the worldly, the Prophet had arrived at a dead end. The chances of his
success and of the acceptance of his message were nil. But he was steadfast,
and was confident that God would open a way. It had been his custom to
make contact with parties from other parts of the country who visited Mecca
on the occasion of the annual pilgrimage, and to try to interest them in
his mission and message. On one such occasion, he met a party of six pilgrims
from Medina, then known as Yathrib, who were encamped in a valley outside
Mecca. At that time, Medina was inhabited by two Arab and three principal
Jewish tribes. The Arab tribes, Aus and Khazraj, were pagan idol worshippers,
but had to some degree become familiar with the Jewish traditions. They
had heard from their Jewish fellow townsmen that they were expecting the
advent of a Prophet which had been foretold in their Scriptures (Deut.
18:18).

The men whom the Prophet
encountered on this occasion belonged to the Khazraj tribe. When he told
them that God had appointed him His Messenger, and had charged him with
a message for mankind, they gave him a ready and eager hearing. They were
convinced of his truth and declared their faith in him and in his message,
agreeing to convey it to their fellow townsmen upon their return to Medina.

The next year, twelve
of them, representing both Aus and Kharaj, who were persuaded of the truth
of the Prophet, came on pilgrimage and had a secret meeting with him in
which they formally pledged their allegiance to him. They also requested
him to send someone to Medina who might instruct them in the doctrine
and teachings of Islam and help them to carry the Prophet's message to
their brethren. The Prophet chose Mus'ab bin Umair for this purpose and
dispatched him to Medina.

When the next season
of the pilgrimage came, a large and representative delegation from Medina,
seventy men and two women, met the Prophet and assured him that not only
were their people in Medina ready to receive and give shelter to their
brethren in faith from Mecca, but that they were eager and would be greatly
honored to receive the Prophet himself if he decided to go to Medina. On
this occasion, the Prophet was accompanied by his uncle, Abbas, who though
he had not yet accepted Islam, was fond of the Prophet and was anxious
for his safety. He warned the Medina delegation that they were undertaking
a heavy responsibility in inviting the Prophet to Medina. The leader
of the delegation replied that they had carefully considered all the
implications involved in their invitation, and they would guard the Prophet
with their lives. The Prophet decided that the Muslims of Mecca would migrate
to Medina, and that for himself he would await God's command.

The Migration Under the Prophet's
direction, the Muslims in Mecca began to proceed to Medina quietly and
without creating any stir. After a short period, the only adult male Muslims
left in Mecca, besides the Prophet, were Abu Bakr and Ali, and a handful
of slaves, who had no choice in the matter. Quraish took alarm that the
Prophet might soon move beyond their reach, and they resolved to put a
violent end to him on a particular night. At this point, the Prophet received
God's command to leave Mecca, and he did so in company with Abu Bakr.

When it was discovered
that the Prophet had left Mecca, the Quraish organized a party to pursue
him and Abu Bakr. Guided by a tracker, the party arrived outside the cave
in which the two fugitives had taken shelter. The tracker assured them
that the fugitives had not gone any further. He was ridiculed, as there
was nowhere for anyone to go except inside the cave, and this possibility
they ruled out. Who would take the risk of serious bodily harm, and
possibly death, from the vipers and reptiles that abounded inside and around
the cave? Abu Bakr heard the voices of Quraish in altercation and was much
afraid that if their hiding place was discovered, serious harm might befall
the Prophet. When he mentioned his fear, the Prophet replied: Have no fear.
We are not only two, there is a third with us, i.e., God (9:40).

The pursuers returned
to Mecca, foiled in their immediate objective, but firm in their purpose.
They announced that anyone who brought back the Prophet, alive or dead,
would receive a reward of one hundred camels. This was widely proclaimed
in all directions.

The Prophet and Abu
Bakr spent two nights in the cave and on the third left for Medina accompanied
by a trusted servant of Abu Bakr and a guide. Ten days after leaving Mecca,
the party arrived within sight of Medina and were joyfully welcomed by
the Muslims from Medina and those from Mecca who had preceded them. The
Prophet decided to stop for a few days in Quba, a suburb of Medina, and
then proceed to Medina. On arrival in Medina, his first act was to purchase
the site where his camel had stopped, for the purpose of building a mosque
thereon. He then accepted the offer of a Muslim whose house was nearest
to the selected site to put him up temporarily, while the mosque and his
own quarters next to it were being built.

With the arrival of
the Prophet in Medina, Islam began to spread rapidly among the two Arab
tribes of the town. But, as often happens in a mass movement, not all who
declared their adherence to the faith were inspired by sincerity and high
ideals. It was, however, generally felt that the Prophet was the most appropriate
person, in the conditions and circumstances of Medina, to take the responsibility
of administering the affairs of Medina. Under his direction, a covenant
was drawn up which was subscribed to both by Arabs and Jews. A common citizenship
of Medina was established and conditions were prescribed for the regulation
of the affairs of the town as well as for organizing its internal order
and external security. It was agreed that the internal affairs of each
section would be regulated according to its laws and customs, but that
if the security of Medina was threatened from outside, all sections would
co-operate with each other in its defense. No section would enter into
any separate treaty relations with any outside tribe, nor would any section
be compelled to join in any fighting that might take place outside Medina.
The final determination of disputes would be referred to the Prophet and
his decision would be accepted and carried out.

Thus, the already heavy
responsibilities of the Prophet were augmented by the problems related
to the administration of the affair of Medina. Abdullah bin Ubayy, Chief
of Khazraj, was deeply chagrined at the loss of a crown, which, before
the arrival of the Prophet, he had thought was assured for him. He became
the leader of the disaffected party in Medina who became known as the hypocrites.
The Jews on their part were not well disposed towards the Prophet. They
were, it is true, awaiting the advent of a Prophet foretold in their scriptures
(Deut. 18:18), but they felt that to accept an Arab as fulfilment of that
Prophecy would raise the prestige of the Arabs above that of the Jews in
the religious and spiritual spheres and this, as Jehovah's chosen people,
they were not prepared to tolerate. While not daring to oppose the Prophetopenly,
they let no opportunity pass of intriguing and conspiring against him and
the Muslims, both inside Medina and outside.To the internal problems of
Medina and the dangers and hazardsconfronting the Muslims, and most of
all the Prophet himself, a formidable threat was soon added from Mecca.

When the Meccans learned
that the Prophet had arrived safely at Medina, they resolved to adopt coercive
measures to secure his expulsion from Medina. They addressed a letter to
Abdullah bin Ubayy, warning him and the people of Medina that if they did
not expel Muhammad from the city, or, failing that, did not take up against
him and the Muslims, jointly with the Meccans, the Meccans would invade
Medina with a mighty force and put to the sword all its male adults and
enslave all its women. On receipt of this ultimatum, Abdullah held a secret
council of his supporters proposed that, in view of the Meccan threat,
the only course open to them was to force the Prophet and his followers
to leave When news of this reached the Prophet, he went to Abdullah and
tried to dissuade him from embarking on such a course pointing out that
any such adventure could lead only to is own ruin. For the time being,
Abdullah forbore, but he never abandoned the hope that an opportunity might
arise when he could take measures to rid Medina of the Prophet and the
Muslims, and secure his own recognition as the chief and ruler of Medina.
Thus the stage was set for open warfare between the Meccans and the Muslims
in Medina.

All the great qualities
of the Holy Prophet were now challenged and came into play. Though God's
promise of succour for, and ultimate triumph of, Islam was wholly true
and completely to be depended upon, God required that every effort be put
forth in support of the cause. Therein lies the secret of the strength
of Islam as a faith. The fullest confidence in, and reliance upon, God's
grace and help, and the putting forth of the utmost effort that man is
capable of, both these in combination, as taught by God Himself, help to
achieve the goal. All success in every beneficent endeavor comes from
God, but it follows upon sincere and steadfast effort combined with perfect
trust and humble supplication to God.

The Battle of Badr
Space would not
permit of even the briefest reference to all the precautions that the Holy
Prophet took, and all the measures that he adopted, for the building up
of the Muslim community, for the security of Medina, and for the ultimate
triumph of the faith. By way of illustration, however, a brief account
might be set out of the first battle fought out in Islam. About a year
after the Emigration, intelligence began to reach the Prophet that the
Meccans were preparing a strong force to advance upon Medina. Their pretext
was that one of their large caravans returning fromarms Syria was likely
to be attacked by the Muslims at a point near Medina, and that an adequate
force had to proceed north to secure its safe passage. They may have been
genuinely apprehensive concerning the caravan, in view of their declared
objective of putting and an end to the Prophet and the Muslims by use of
force. It was a large caravan, carrying valuable merchandise and was accom-
panied by a sizeable armed guard. By the time the Meccan army set out on
its march north, however, news arrived that the caravan had passed safely
through the danger zone. Nevertheless, the Meccan army continued its march
in the direction of Medina.

On the side of the Muslims,
permission to take up arms in defense having been accorded in Divine revelation
(22:40-42), the Prophet assembled a force of just over three hundred Muslims
from Mecca and Medina, and marched out with them. This heterogeneous
body -- it scarcely deserved the designation 'force' -- was united only
by the common bond of faith and the determination to die in defense of
it. It included some of the older Meccan Muslims who were good fighters,
but the greater number were young men who had had little, if any, combat
experience. Their devotion to the faith and their zeal in its support were
their only qualifications. Ill-armed, in poor physical condition, with
but two horses, and.a few camels, they presented a pitiful contrast to
the Meccan army, which consisted of a thousand tried warriors, well-armed,
and well-mounted.

After a march of three
days, the Muslims arrived at Badr and took up their position near a well.
The ground underfoot was sandy and the few experienced fighters in the
group were apprehensive that this would be a serious handicap during
battle, as the sand would not permit easy and rapid movement. The Meccan
army on its arrival took up a position opposite on firm clay soil.

Night set in. The Prophet
spent the greater part of it in earnest prayer and supplication. He had
firm faith in every Divine promise, but he also realized fully the complete
supremacy of the Divine Being and the many weaknesses that beset mortals.
He prayed for success; he prayed for strength; he prayed for steadfastness
for himself and those with him. Part of his prayer during that fateful
night has come down to us. It reveals the core of his anxiety: "Lord,
if Thou wilt suffer this little band to perish, Thy Holy Name will no more
be glorified on earth and there will be none left to worship Thy Majesty
in true sincerity."

The morning approached.
There had been a shower of rain which firmed the sand underfoot while turning
the clay into slippery mud, and the Muslims were comforted and encouraged.
They beheld, in hope and fear, the dawn of the day which was to decide
the issue of the most fateful contest ever waged in the history of man
between the forces of truth and righteousness, and those of falsehood and
ignorance. The Prophet drew up his men in battle array and, leaving them
with his instructions, retired again to supplicate the Divine. He was prostrate
before his Lord in agony when the general fighting began. Abu Bakr approached
him and put a gentle hand on his shoulder, saying: Messenger of Allah,
thou hast prayed enough. The Prophet raised himself and announced that
God had just given him to understand that the time had arrived for the
fulfilment of the prophecy revealed sometime earlier at Mecca:

"The hosts shall be routed and will turn their backs in flight.
Aye, the Hour is their appointed time; and the Hour will be most calamitous
and most bitter. " (54:46-47).

The Muslims had their
backs to the rising sun, while it shone on the faces of Quraish. For a
short while the advantage appeared to be with Quraish on account of the
superiority of their numbers and equipment. The Holy Prophet took up a
handful of gravel and sand and threw it in the direction of the enemy.
Immediately a fierce gust of wind began to blow gravel and sand into the
faces of Quraish, which almost blinded them, and made their movements erratic
and ineffective.

The issue now was no
longer in doubt. The flower of chivalry of Quraish was soon left upon the
field, dead and dying. Seventy, all leading men of Quraish, including Abu
Jahl, were killed and an equal number taken prisoner, including the Prophet's
uncle, Abbas, and one of his sons-in-law. Of the Muslims, fourteen, six
Emigrants and eight Ansar, became martyrs but none was taken prisoner.
The Prophet, while giving thanks to God for the great deliverance which
He had vouchsafed, was deeply grieved that so many of Quraish had perished
in pursuit of their vain purpose.

There was much debate
as to the fate of the prisoners. According to Arab custom, they could
have been dispatched imediately; but the Prophet determined that those
who could offer suitable ransom would be released on payment of ransom,
and those who could not offer ransom would be released as an act of grace.
The ransom of such prisoners as were literate was fixed at teaching ten
Muslim boys to read and write.

When the news of the
catastrophe reached Mecca, there was mourning in every house. But all customary
lamentations and other expressions and exhibitions of grief were forbidden
by the Elders till Quraish had had time to reorganize their forces and
to avenge the disastrous defeat. The profits gained by the caravan that
had arrived safely in Mecca were not distributed, but were reserved for
the purpose of equipping another force against the Muslims.

There is no other instance
in human history of such a clear and decisive Divine Sign in support of
truth against falsehood. The grave disparity in all respects between the
opposing forces predicated the certain and utter ruin of the weaker side.
Except for the succour and grace of God, there can be no feasible explana-
tion of the disaster that overtook Quraish. The unequal struggle would
continue for another four years, but there is no doubt that the spine of
the vaunted might of Quraish was effectively broken in the field of Badr.

Opposition Continues
A year later, at
Uhud, the disparity in numbers and equipment was even more striking than
at Badr, yet in the beginning of the battle the Muslims put the enemy to
flight; but owing to a grave default on the part of a small group, the
triumph was converted into near disaster for the Muslims. Even so, Quraish
failed to take advantage of the situation which had placed Medina at their
mercy and returned to Mecca without the achievement of their ultimate purpose.

Viewing with grave alarm
the increasing strength of the Prophet and the Muslims, and the slow but
steady progress of Islam, Quraish now had recourse to calling in aid the
large number of tribes whom their hostile propaganda had converted into
bitter enemies of Islam. A mighty host, numbering between eighteen and
twenty thousand, now advanced against Medina with the determined purpose
of putting an end, finally, to what they conceived to be a grave threat
to their way of life and to all that which had value in their eyes.

On arrival near Medina
they discovered that their advance on the city was barred by a wide trench,
which was manned by the Muslims at various places on its inner side. Chagrined,
but not discouraged, they laid siege to Medina. The siege continued for
nearly three weeks and imposed unendurable suffering and hardship upon
the inhabitants of the city. There was little fighting, except whenever
a party of Quraish made an attempt to cross the trench. Each such attempt
was gallantly foiled by the Muslims. Yet the Muslims were reduced to such
a state of weakness and helplessness, that from the purely human point
of view, they could not imagine that any chance of their deliverance might
still be available. To add to the anxiety and concern of the Holy Prophet,
he received intimation that the only remaining Jewish tribe in Medina had
yielded to the solicitations of Quraish and had agreed to attack the Muslims
in the rear while the confederate army mounted a joint attack all along
the trench in front. The Muslims would thus be crushed between the upper
millstone of the confederate forces and the nether millstone of Banu Quraidah,
the Jewish tribe, who had treacherously, contrary to their covenant, gone
over to the enemy.

The situation was one
of utter hopelessness and despair for the Muslims, but for their firm faith
in God and His promise of security. About the middle of the night, a
fierce storm began to blow, which threw the entire camp of the confederates
into utter confusion. They were so terrified that they felt that there
was no security for them except in flight. By the break of dawn, not one
of them was left within visible distance of the trench. This was the end
of the armed aggression of Quraish against the Muslims.

These were, however,
only the highlights of the struggle which had throughout the years continued
to erupt in every shape and form, including treachery, deceit and ambush.
All such attempts were frustrated by the foresight and wisdom of the Holy
Prophet who spared no effort in safeguarding the security of those who
had been entrusted into his care. Yet that was not his only, or even his
main, purpose. This type of struggle was not of his seeking, but had
been forced upon him against his will. Through all this, he continued to
pursue his main purpose which was the propagation of the Unity of the
Divine and the training of his people in the beneficent values of Islam
which pervade every aspect of human life.

In the sixth year after
his Emigration from Mecca to Medina, a truce was arranged with Quraish
at Hudaibiyya, for a period of ten years, the terms of which, even in the
eyes of the Muslims, were utterly unequal and were even humiliating for
them. But the Holy Prophet knew better and it soon became clear that the
truce had opened wide avenues for the spread and progress of Islam. Within
less than two years, Quraish committed a glaring breach of the terms of
the truce, by a party of them attacking and ravaging a tribe in alliance
with the Muslims.

On the entreaty of the
oppressed tribe, the Holy Prophet marched against Mecca at the head of
ten thousand devoted Muslims. Quraish realized that no way of deliverance
was left to them. They threw themselves upon the mercy of the Holy Prophet.

All the scorn and ridicule
poured on him by the Meccans in his early years; their implacable hatred
and enmity; the long years of bitter, cruel, and sustained persecution;
all the fighting, the hardship and suffering; the loss of dear and devoted
Companions -- all, all was in the moment of triumph laid aside, banished
from the mind and forgiven in the name of the Lord on High, the Gracious,
the Merciful, the Creator and Master of all. The gates of love and mercy
were opened wide. Bitter enemies of the morning became warm friends by
midday. Some hearts were still sullen; the humiliation, though softened
by magnanimity, was hard to endure, but even these could not long withstand
the healing effect of the balm so generously and so beneficently applied
by the Prophet. History furnishes no parallel instance of such complete
forgiveness, such utter beneficence, on so large a scale.

Mecca had fallen, but
this did not bring peace. Within less than a month, while the Prophet was
still in Mecca, he had to go forth to face a huge army of hostile tribes
at Hunain. The battle, even before it was fairly joined, took an adverse
course, and the Muslim forces were thrown into utter confusion. They were,
however, soon rallied and the fighting that ensued ended in complete victory
for them. A very large number of prisoners was taken and enormous booty
fell into the hands of the Muslims. Eventually, the prisoners were all
freed without ransom and out of the spoils munificent largesses were bestowed
upon the Meccans, some of whom had not even embraced Islam.

Taif still stood out,
and though the Jewish stronghold at Khaibar which had long been the center
of intrigue against the Muslims had been subdued earlier, danger still
threatened from the north. There were persistent rumors, subsequently discovered
as originating in malice, that a large force was gathering on the border
of Syria with hostile intent. In the face of great difficulties, the Prophet
assembled a force and marched to the border of Syria. Arrived there, he
dispatched parties in different directions to report on the situation.
These returned and reported that they had not observed any concentrations
anywhere. Being reassured, the Prophet decided to return to Medina, stopping
only for a few days to conclude peace treaties with some tribes on the
border. There was no fighting. Delegations now poured in from all parts
of Arabia offering submission and announcing acceptance of Islam.

Pilgrimage to Mecca
In the eleventh
year of the Hijra, the Prophet decided to go on pilgrimage to Mecca. On
the day of pilgrimage, there was assembled in the valley of Arafat a concourse
of a hundred thousand devout pilgrims. Muhammad, the chosen of Allah; re-
jected by Quarish; persecuted; boycott,ed; hounded out of Taif; forced
out of Mecca with a price of one hundred camels proclaimed for his person,
dead or alive; pursued by the hatred of Quraish even in Medina; challenged
by force, besieged, plotted against; faithful, loyal, steadfast, humble,
obedient servant of Allah; His Messenger par excellence was now surrounded
by an ocean of faithful, devoted hearts, all proclaiming the glory of Allah,
celebrating His praise, affirming His Unity, supplicating Him for forgiveness,
mercy, compassion; and invoking His blessings on Muhammad.

The Prophet proceeded
on his camel, Qaswa, to the Mount of Mercy, and standing on the back of
Qaswa, made his address of farewell. After the recitation of the Shahadah,
he said that he did not know whether he would be able to meet them again
on the occasion of the pilgrimage, and he asked them to lend an attentive
ear to what he had to say. He went on to admonish them to order their lives
in accordance with the commandments of God; to take particular care that
no trespass was committed against any person in respect of his life, property,
or honor; to treat women with due regard and consideration, fully observing
their rights, which corresponded to the rights that men had. He expressed
solicitude for the welfare of the prisoners of war, some of whom they still
had among them, saying that they must be accorded the same treatment as
was due to the members of their families.

He stressed that all
human beings were equal, whatever their individual status, and that no
one could claim any privilege or superiority against any other. He ended
by asking them to hold fast to the Unity of God, and to the principal articles
of faith. He then inquired whether he had conveyed God's message to them
and had discharged his trust. There was a deafening and repeated response
that he had. He asked those present to convey what he had said to those
who were not present on the occasion.

At the end of his address,
he received the revelation:

"This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed
My favor unto you and have chosen for you Islam as your faith. "
(5:4)

This was a clear indication
that his mission having been fulfilled, he should now prepare for his return
to his Lord.

It was time for prayer
and the Prophet led the combined noon and afternoon Prayer services. Thereafter
he again mounted Qaswa and returning to the vicinity of the Mount of Mercy,
among the boulders, he stood on the back of Qaswa, facing in the direction
of the Ka'aba, and raising his arms, became absorbed in entreaty and supplication
in the attitude of one who, sore troubled and distressed, begged for mercy.
He continued thus till sunset.

The pilgrimage over,
the Prophet returned to Medina and occupied every available moment with
expounding and teaching the principles of Islam and the philosophy that
lay behind them, and with urging the Muslims to order their lives accordingly.
One day he announced that he had received the revelation:

"The help of Allah having come, and the victory, and thou having
witnessed men entering the religion of Allah in large groups, celebrate
the praises of thy Lord, and seek His forgiveness for their frailties.
Surely, He is Oft- Returning with compassion." (110:2-4)

Hearing this, Abu Bakr
was overcome by emotion and exclaimed: Were it possible, we would ransom
thee with our fathers, our mothers and ourselves; upon which the Prophet
observed: If it were permissible to love a human being with the heart's
full devotion, I would have so loved Abu Bakr; but such love is only for
God. He went on to add that all doors that opened into the courtyard of
the mosque should be closed, except the door of Abu Bakr.

Soon the Prophet fell
ill. For some days, despite his illness, he continued to lead the Prayers,
but when he became too weak to do so, he directed that Abu Bakr should
lead the Prayers in his place.

The Holy Prophet passes away
The end approached.
The Prophet expressed great anxiety lest after his death his followers
might be tempted to have recourse to practices which might assign to him
a position above that of a human being, as had been done in the case of
some previous Prophets by their followers. He impressed repeatedly upon
those who visited him that he was but a human being to whom God had vouchsafed
revelation for the guidance of mankind. He breathed his last with the words:
"To the Companionship On High, to the Companionship On High."

The Prophet's death
struck the Muslims as a fearful calamity, and they were crushed with grief.
Umar drew his sword and said he would cut off the head of any who dared
to assert that the Prophet was dead; he could not die. Abu Bakr arrived.
Entering the chamber where the Prophet's body lay, he kissed it on the
forehead, and said: God will not inflict two deaths upon thee. He then
came out and asked Umar to desist while he addressed the people briefly.
He recited from the Holy Quran:

"Muhammad is but a Messenger. All Messengers have passed away
before him. If then he die or be slain, will you turn back on your heels?"
(3:145)

He added: Harken, he
who worshipped Muhammad should know that Muhammad is dead, but he who worships
God should remember that God is Ever-Living and does not die.

Thus ended a life that
has stood unmatched in every respect in human history.

Conclusion

"Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror,
of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas; the founder of twenty terrestrial
empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards
by which human greatness may be measured, we may ask, is there any man
greater than he?" (Lamartine, History of Turkey, p.276)

"If the object of religion be the inculcation of morals, the diminution
of evil, the promotion of human happiness, the expansion of the human intellect;
if the performance of good works will avail on the Great Day when mankind
shall be summoned to its final reckoning, it is neither irrelevant nor
unreasonable to admit that Muhammad was indeed an Apostle of God."
(S. P. Scott, History of Moorish Empire in Europe, p.126).

Muhammad left an enduring
impress upon a large mass of mankind. He indeed proved an excellent exemplar,
as God had described him in the Quran (33:22). God proclaimed:

"Allah sends down His blessings on the Prophet, and His angels
constantly invoke blessings on him; do you, 0 believers, also invoke Allah's
blessings on him and offer him the salutation of peace. " (33:57)

In obedience to this
Divine command, all through the centuries, Muslims have constantly prayed
for, and invoked Allah's blessings upon, the Prophet. There are, today,
more than 800 million Muslims in different parts of the world, and the
number is daily increasing. An average Muslim invokes God's blessings on
the Prophet at least forty times during the course of each day, and many
of them do it much oftener. Every time the Prophet is referred to in conversation
by name or by his Prophetic office, Allah's blessings are invoked upon
him and Allah's peace is called down upon him. Thus every moment of the
night and day, millions of hearts supplicate the Almighty for His blessings
on His Prophet.

One who devoted his
life so utterly to the service of God and His creatures, as did the Prophet,
is deserving of the deepest gratitude on the part of the whole of mankind.
By constantly invoking the blessings of God upon him, those who do so seek
to repay a fraction of the great debt that humanity owes him.

His greatest follower
and most devoted servant in modern times, the Promished Messiah, has summed
up the proof of the truth of the Holy Prophet, and the perfection of the
faith that he taught in two Persian verses which may be rendered as follows:

"Unlettered, yet matchless in respect of his inner learning and
wisdom. What brighter proof can there be of his truth?

"My eye has roamed far afield and has not observed any spring purer
than the faith that he inculcated."